The government is conducting a review into the use of signs, bollards and advertising hoardings in Britain, claiming they are a waste of money.

Senior cabinet members are worried streets are "losing their English character" as councils mount traffic signs and hoardings, squandering taxpayers' finance in the process.

The government will complete its research into street furniture in spring 2011, publishing advice for councils later that year.

The communities secretary, Eric Pickles, and the transport secretary, Philip Hammond, have written to council leaders calling on them to reduce the number of signs and other "street clutter" and urging them to wage war on "bossy bollards".

The transport department says in some cases councils are putting up signage they mistakenly believe is legally required. It is calling on councils across Britain to crack down on street furniture, although confusingly Pickles today announced the project by saying streets are losing "their English character".

While some signs and street furniture are required by law, the government says that for such items to be most effective they should be kept to a minimum.

To assist councils with the task of determining which street signs should be removed the transport department will review traffic signs policy before publishing new advice on how to reduce signs and railings.

"Our streets are losing their English character," said Pickles.

"We are being overrun by scruffy signs, bossy bollards, patchwork paving and railed off roads – wasting taxpayers' money that could be better spent on fixing potholes or keeping council tax down. We need to 'cut the clutter'.

"Too many overly-cautious town hall officials are citing safety regulations as the reason for cluttering up our streets with an obstacle course when the truth is very little is dictated by law. Common sense tells us uncluttered streets have a fresher, freer, authentic feel, which are safer and easier to maintain."

One of the examples listed by the DfT as having its character spoiled was the cathedral city of Salisbury in Wiltshire, which it said was littered with bollards – one parking area for 53 cars having 63 bollards.

The DfT also said that the removal of street clutter from Kensington High Street in west London had reduced accidents by up to 47%.

Hammond said: "We all know that some signs are necessary to make our roads safe and help traffic flow freely. But unnecessary street furniture is a waste of taxpayers' money and leaves our streets looking more like scrap yards than public spaces.

He added: "We don't need all this clutter confusing motorists, obstructing pedestrians and hindering those with disabilities who are trying to navigate our streets."